Air-conditioning device.



A A. BLOMPELDT.

7 AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 6,1911.

1,013,368, Patented Jan.2,1912.

ALLEN A. BLOMFELDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. g

AIR-CONDITIONING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1911.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

Serial No. 612,695.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form ofair conditioning apparatus for ventilating purposes; to provide animproved apparatus of this kind capable of accomplishing the functionsof heating or cooling, humidifying or dehu- Inidifying, washing, anddisinfecting air;

- to provide a comparatively inexpensive, simple and compactconstruction for such apparatus; and to provide an improved arrangementof the parts so as to give ready access to all parts of the interior andso as to make the device easily portable as a unit.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in sectional elevationin the accompanying drawing.

In the construction shown, the device is portably mounted on a wheeledcarriage 1, and comprises a blower 2 and a motor 3, directly connected,and the .air conditioning apparatus mounted on the frame 4 above themotor and blower. The blower has an air inlet 5 and outlet 6, the latterbeing connected with the air inlet pipe of the conditioning apparatus.

The conditioning apparatus comprises an outer casing 7, the lower partof which At the top there is a removable closure 9 provided withforms atank or receptacle 8.

a plurality of air outlet pipes 10. The air inlet pipe 11 connects withthe blower outlet 6, and extends concentrically upward through themiddle of the tank 8, terminating a short distance below the closure 9.v

A second tank or receptacle 12 is concentrically supported within thecasing 7 on a grating or spider 13 seated at the top of the conicalwalls of the tank 8. The tank 12 has a central tubular part '14 whichfits:

around the inlet pipe 11 and serves to center the tank in the casing.

A hood 15 is supported in the casing with its vertical wall resting onthe grating 13 concentrically of the casing 7 and tank 12, whereby thereis formed a tortuous air passage 16 between the walls of the parts. Atransverse partition 17 in the hood is spaced away fromthe top of thetank 12 and is shaped to form a dome 18, over the top of the inlet pipe11. A bafilewall 19, secured to the partition 17 at the edges of thedome 18, extends downward into the tank 12 and terminates in a flutedskirt 20. The vertical wall of the hood 15 extends above the transversepartition 17 so as to form a liquid receptacle or tank 21 above thereceptacle 12.

The air may be heated as it passes through the apparatus preferably bymeans Ofl electrical coils or heaters supported within the apparatus.One of these heaters 22 is shown supported in the dome 18 above andadjacent to the end of the air inlet pipe 11.,

Other heaters 23 may be similarly located on the under side of theclosure 9 adjacent to the air outlets 10.

For humidifying the air, an annular trough or liquid spraying device 24is supported in the air inlet, which in the construction shown issupported at the juncture of the pipes 6 and 11. These pipes arepreferably enlarged adjacent to their flanged connection so as toprovide the necessary space to receive said trough 24 and also provide asutficient space forthe passage of air. This trough 24 is supplied withwater through the valved pipe 25, connected. to a pipe 26 secured in thebottom of the conical tank 8. The valve is set so as to permit a smallstream of water to trickle into the trough 24, so as to keep it so fullthat it,

overflows and the strong air current in passing the trough breaks theoverflowing water into a spray and carries it along.

A drain pipe 27 is connected to the pipe 26 and has at its end a valve28 which is normally closed for retaining the liquid contents in thetank 8. This valve may be opened to drain ofl the liquid at times whenit is desired to change the liquid or to cleanse the apparatus. Theblower 2 is provided with a plug 29, which may be removed for thepurpose of draining the blower casing, should any liquid accumulate inthe bottom thereof. A pan 30 is placed on the platform under the blowerto receive the liquid that is drained from the blower.

Quantities of liquid may be placed in the conical tank 8, the tank12,and the receptacle 21 formed in the top vof the hood 15. The tank 12 isprovided with a plurality of apertures 31, so arranged that the level ofthe liquid will always be at or near too (preferably slightly below) thelower edge of the fluted skirt 20.

The level of the liquids in the other tanks is determined by the amountplaced therein, according to the service in which the apparatus is beingemployed. The nature of the liquids contained in these receptacles willof course be deter-- mined by the nature of the treatment desired forthe air. Theliquid usually employed is water. Each of the tanks 12 and21 has a removable plug in its bottom so that it may be readily drainedinto the tank below.

The operation of the device is as fol.- lows :Air enters the pipe 11 afromthe blower 2, and is deflected by the dome 18 and the dependingbaffle wall 19 downwardly into the tank 12, where it impinges upon thesurface of the liquid and is deflected upwardly. The skirt 20being-fluted, causes the air to be evenly distributed over the surfaceof the liquid and directed against it substantially in the form of jets.

' current of air is then deflected bythe transverse partition 17downwardly through the passage 16, between the tank 12 and the hood 15,and is caused to impinge upon the surface of the liquid inthe tank 8, bywhich it is deflected upwardly through the pas sage 16 between thecasing 7 and hood 15. The outlet ports 10 being positioned inwardlyrelative to the vertical wall of the hood 15, the air current is againdeflected by the closure 9 downwardly against the surface of the liquidcontained in the receptacle 21 before it. passes out through the ports10 into the room or into such pipes as may be provided for conveying theair to a desired locality. These are preferably mounted to turn in ahorizontal plane.

In the summer time, it is usually desired that the normally warm air becooled and dehumidified. In that case, the tank 12 would be filled withwater and bekept cool by means of ice placed therein. The tank 8 andreceptacle 21 may also be similarly filled with liquid. Thus, the airupon being forced into the conditioning apparatus through the pipe 11 isdeflected downwardly against .the surface of the cold water, where itgives up some of its moisture as it is cooled. If there is liquid in thetank 8, it will be further cooled and moisture will be removed therefromby condenin the room, and upon being forced out" sation as it isdeflected upwardly from the surface of the liquid, and even though-thisair may be saturated'with moisture at this lower temperature, it iscooler than the air into the warmer air of the room, its temperature isincreased and'its relative humidity is accordingly reduced so that itactually has less humidity and is cooler than when it first entered theapparatus.

.In the winter time, the apparatus may be used for heating andhumdifying the The I .5 air. In such case, the water inthe tanks 12 and8 does not require cooling, but is gradually warmed by \the warm air ofthe room and by radiation from the heater- 22. The trough 24 is keptslightly overflowing with water, and as the air is forced upwardlythrough the pipe 11, picks up the overflowing water and may carry insuspension a greater quantity of water than In cases where the air isparticularly foul,

it is desirable to place in it a suitable disinfectant in solutionpreferably in the re- *ceptacle 21, where the air will be treated justbefore it passes into the room after having been washed through itscontact with the liquid in the tanks 12 and 8.

It will be noted from the drawings that the air passing from. the pipe11 into the comparatively larger space within the baffle wall 19 expandsand reduces its velocity, allowing the particles of matter which arecarried in suspension to fall out of the conveying-air current into thewater below. W'hatever solid matter is carried in suspension by theentering air is saturated by the moisture from the spraying device 24.This increases the weight of those particles and accordingly as ists ineliminating them from the air during the bafliing operations whichfollow. .Other particles of solid matter are removed as the air passesover the surface of the water in the tank 12 and again as it passesaround thebottom ofithe battle wall 15 from the comparatively narrowpassage within that bafiie wall into a passage of greater area outside.The water also serves the function of taking up and removing from theyair any soluble gases such as carbon di-oxid and sulfuric'gases.

The spraying device 24 receives its liquid I by gravity from the tank 8and the liquid device is in use, When ice is placed in the receptacle12, the melting thereof will also cause the liquid in the receptacle tooverflow. As the liquid flows down the outside of the receptacle, thecurrent of air is further exposed thereto and may take up more moistureor be further cooled as the case may be.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shownand described, it will be understood that'numerous details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim 1. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of liquidreceptacles mounted one within the other in spaced relation, a

battle wall interposed between the adjacent air deflecting means abovethe open part of,

walls of said receptacles and adapted to form a tortuous air passagebetween them,

one of said receptacles and with said baffle wall forming a closure forthe space above said receptacle, each of said receptacles being adaptedto hold liquid at such level that the surface thereof will deflect theair current, an air pipe terminating above and adjacent to the surfaceof the liquid in the inner said receptacle, a second air pipecommunicating with the-other said receptacle above the sur face of theliquid therein, and means for causing a current of air to flow throughsaid passage from one to the other of said pipes.

2. In an air conditioning apparatus, the

combination of an outer casing, a receptacle supported therein, a hoodcovering said receptacle and having the walls thereof spaced away fromthe walls of said casing and said 7 receptacle so as to form a tortuousair passage between them, an air pipe extending into said casing andterminating within said receptacle below said hood, a second air pipeconnected to said casing, means for causing a current of air to flowthrough said passage from one to the other of said pipes, and saidreceptacle being adapted to hold liquid at such level that the surfacewill be in position for deflecting the air current upwardly.

3. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of an outer casing,a receptacle supported therein, a hood covering said receptacle andhaving the walls thereof spaced away from the walls of said casing andsaid receptacle so as to form-a tortuous air passage between them, anair pipe extending upwardly through said casing and receptacle andterminating below said hood, a second air pipe connected to said casing,means for causing a current of air to flow through said passage from oneto the other of said. pipes, and, said casing and receptacle beingadapted to hold liquid at such level hood covering said receptacle andhaving the walls thereof spaced away from the walls of said receptacleand easing so as to form a tortuous air passage between them, a secondreceptacle for liquid above said hood, an air inlet pipe extending intosaid casing and terminating below the horizontal wall of said hood, anair outlet pipe communicating with said casing above said hood inwardlyof the sides of said second receptacle, and means for causinga currentof air to flow through said passage from one to the other of saidreceptacles.

5. In'an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of an outer casing,a receptacle for liquid supported within said casing, a hood coveringsaid receptacle and having the walls thereof spaced away from the wallsof said receptacle and casing so as to form a-tortuous air passagebetween them, said hood having its vertical wall extending above thehorizontal wall spanning said receptacle so as to form anotherreceptacle for liquid, an air inlet pipe extending into said casing and.terminating below the horizontal wall of said hood, an air outlet pipecommunicating with said casing above said hood inwardly of the verticalwalls thereof, and means for causing a current of air to flow throughsaid passage from one to the other of said pipes.

6. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a casing havingan outlet opening, an inlet pipe extending-upwardly into said casing andterminating below the top thereof, a hood supported within said casingand covering said inlet pipe, areceptacle supported within said hood andspaced away therefrom so as to form a tortuous air passage between thewalls of said casing, hood and receptacle, liquid supported within saidreceptacle and casing in position to deflect the air current upwardly,

and means for causing a current of air to flow'through said passage fromsaid inlet pipe to said,outlet opening.

7. In anair conditioning apparatus, the combination of a casing havingan air outlet, an air inlet pipe extending upwardly into said casing, ahoodsupported in said 'casing and over said inlet pipe, a receptaclesupported within said hood and spaced away therefrom so as to form atortuous air passage between the walls of said casing,.'hood andreceptacle, a bafile wall depending from the top of said hood, saidreceptacle being adapted to hold liquid in such position that thesurface'thereof will be below the lower edge of said battle wall andadapted to deflect air upwardly,

{and means for causing "a currentof air to;

flow through said passage'fr'om said inlet' into said casing, a hoodsupported in said a pipe tosaid outlet opening combination of a casinghavmganair out let, an air inlet pipeiextendingi upwardly casing oversaid inlet'pipe, a receptacle supported within said hood and spaced awaytherefrom so as to form a tortuous air passage between the walls ofsaid' casing, hood and receptacle, a baflie'wall depending from the topof said hood and terminating in a fluted skirt, said receptaclebeing'adapted to hold liquid in such position that the'sur' face thereofwill be below the lower edge of said bafile wall-and adapted toydefl'ect air upwardly, and means for causing a current of air to flowthrough said passage from said inlet pipeto said outlet ,bpening.

9. In an air conditioning apparatus, the

1 combination of an outerc'asing, a receptacle supported therein, a hoodcovering said receptacle and. having. the walls thereof spaced away fromthe walls of said casing and said receptacle so as to form a tortuousair passage between them, an air pipe extendlng into said casing andterminating.

Within said receptaclebelow' said hood, a

second air pipe connected to said casing, means for causing. a currentof air to flow through said passage from one to-- the other of saidpipes, said receptacle being adapted to hold liquid in such positionthat it will serve for deflecting the air current upwardly, and a heaterarranged in said hood adjacent to the end of said firstair pipe.

'* 1 0. In an air conditioning apparatus, the

combination of an outer casing, a receptacle supported therein, a hoodcovering said receptacle and having the walls thereof spaced away fromthe walls of said casing and said receptacle so as form a tortuous airpassage between them, an air pipe ex-- tending into said casing andterminating within said receptacle below said hood, a

means for causinga current of air to flow through said passage from oneto theother of said pipes, said receptacle being adaptedto hold liquid\in such position, that it will serve for deflecting the air current up-Wardly, and heating means'arranged within said casing adjacentto-saidsecond pipe,

11. In an airconditioning p aratu the combination of an voutercasing,"ar 'receptacle supported therein,l a hood covering saidreceptacle and havingfjthe walls. thereof spaced away from thegwallsoffs'aid casing and, said receptacle-so as'I-to forma tortuous x airpassage .Jbetweengthein, an 'air- 'pipe-iextending into said casing andterminating within saidreceptaclei below .said' hood. =-a

second air pipe connected toflsaid casing",-

means for causing. a current offlairgto flow .Wardly,

ofsaid pipes, said receptacle being adapted w J! to hold liquid in suchposition that it will 8. In an air. condltionlng apparatus, the

serve for deflecting the air current upand heating means supportedwithin'said casing and said hood adjacent to the ends of said pipes.

12. In an'airconditioning apparatus, the combination of an outer'casing,a receptacle supported therein, a hood covering said receptacle andhaving the walls thereof spaced away from the walls of said casing andsaid receptacle so as to form a tortuous air passage between them, an'air pipe extending into said casing and terminating within saidreceptacle below said hood, a

second air pipe connected to said casing,

means for causing a current of air to flow through said passage from oneto the other of said pipes, said receptacle being adapted to hold liquidin such position that it will serve for deflecting the air current upwall forming a closure for the space above said receptacle, eachof saidreceptacles being adapted to hold liquid at such level that wardly, andelectrical heating coils arthe surface thereof will deflect the aircurrent," anair pipe-terminating above and adjacent .to the surface ofthe liquid in the inner said receptacle, a second air pipe commumcatlngwith the other said receptacle above the surface of the liquid therein,means for causing the current of air to flow through said passage fromone to. the other of said pipes,-and heating means arranged v adjacentto said inlet and outlet penings. second air pipe connected to'saidcasiri'g,

14. In an airconditioning apparatus, the combination of a casing havingair inlet and outlet openings, spaced baflie walls mounted within saidcasing and adapted to form a tortuous air passage between said openings,i

an air inlet pipe connected to said inlet opening, an open liquidreceptacle mounted in said pipe, means for continuously supplyingfliquid.to said receptacle to cause it to overflow into said pipe, and meansfor causing a current of air to flow through said passage from one tothe other of said openings.

15. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a casing havingair inlet and outlet openings, spaced baflie walls mounted within saidcasing and adapted to form a tortuous air passage between said openings,an air inlet pipe connected to sa-ld'inlet opening, an annular troughmounted in said into said pipe and means for causing a current of air toflow through said passage from one to the other of said openings;

16. In an air conditioning'apparatus, the

combination of a closed tank adapted to coni tain a quantity of liquid,an air outlet pipe connected to said tank, an air inlet pipe extendingupwardly into said tank and terminating above the surface of saidliquid, baflie walls supported in said tank and adapted to form atortuous air passage between said pipes, spraying means in said airinlet pipe below said tank and connected to said tank and adapted tospray liquid.

therefrom, and means connected to said inlet pipe and adapted to cause acurrent of air to flow through said passage from said inlet pipe to saidoutlet pipe.

7 17. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of an outercasing, a liquid receptacle supported therein, a hood covering saidreceptacle and having the side walls thereofinterposed between andspaced away from the walls of said casing and receptacle so as to form atortuous air passage between them, an air inlet pipe extending frombelow said casing and communicating with the space between saidreceptacle and hood,

a spraying device communicating with said casing and adapted by gravityto receive liquid from said'casing and discharge the same into saidinlet pipe, means for causing a current of air to flow through saidinlet pipe toward said tortuous air passage, said inner receptacle beinglocated and arranged tocollect the surplus moisture carried by theinflowing air current and to overflow into said casing and all beingarranged'to cause a circulation of water and maintain a substantiallyuniform water level in said receptacle.

18. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of an outercasing, a liquid receptacle supported therein, a hood covering saidreceptacle and having the side walls thereof interposed between andspaced away from the walls of said casing and receptacle so as to form atortuous air passage between them, an. air inlet pipe communicating withthe space between said receptacle and hood, a spraying devicecommunicatingbvith said casing and adapted to receive liquid from saidcasing and discharge the same ,into said inlet pipe, means for causingacurrent of air to flow through said inlet pipetoward said tortuous airpassage, said inner receptacle being located and arranged to collect thesurplus moisture carried by the inflowing air current and to overflowinto said casing and all being arranged to cause a circulation of waterand maintain a substantially uniform water level in. said receptacle.Signed at Chicago, this 3rd day of March,

4 ALLEN A. BLOMFELDT. Witnesses:

EUGENE A. RUMMLER, MARY M. DILLMAN,

